On April 17, two people were killed and several were injured in a shooting at Florida State University. A trending social media post discussing the shooting read, “When Republicans inevitably blame mental health and not the guns for the Florida State shooting—kindly remind them that 205 of them voted AGAINST a bill to expand school-based mental health services.” In response, commenters debated whether gun access or mental health conditions cause school shootings. Some called for stricter gun control legislation, while others suggested, “Guns are inanimate objects, of course it’s a mental health issue.” Some said that parents—not schools—should be responsible for students’ mental health care.
Recommendation
Reports of school shootings often lead to increased conversation about mental health. Debunking messaging may emphasize that people with mental health conditions are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators and that research shows that serious mental health conditions contribute to only about 4 percent of violent crimes in the U.S. Communicators may want to share resources to help students, teachers, and parents cope with the aftermath of school shootings and recirculate general mental health resources geared toward youth and college students.
Fact-checking sources: NAMICA, Psychology Today
